flashy

adjective

ˈfla-shē 

flashier; flashiest

1

chiefly dialectal : lacking in substance or flavor : insipid

2

: momentarily dazzling

3

a

: superficially attractive or impressive

b

: ostentatious or showy often beyond the bounds of good taste

especially : marked by gaudy brightness

flashily

ˈfla-shə-lē 

adverb

flashiness

ˈfla-shē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• stylish
• snazzy
• fashionable
• neat
• cool
• splashy
• chic
• jazzy
• fresh [slang]
• custom
• designer
• smart

Choose the Right Synonym for flashy

gaudy, tawdry, garish, flashy, meretricious mean vulgarly or cheaply showy.

gaudy implies a tasteless use of overly bright, often clashing colors or excessive ornamentation.

circus performers in gaudy costumes

tawdry applies to what is at once gaudy and cheap and sleazy.

tawdry saloons

garish describes what is distressingly or offensively bright.

garish neon signs

flashy implies an effect of brilliance quickly and easily seen to be shallow or vulgar.

a flashy nightclub act

meretricious stresses falsity and may describe a tawdry show that beckons with a false allure or promise.

a meretricious wasteland of casinos and bars

Examples of flashy in a Sentence

rich young men who drive flashy cars

I bought the CD primarily for its flashy cover design.

Recent Examples on the Web

Breastfeeding in Public Wasn't Always So Easy The Special K campaign marks a continuation of the message that Baz sends in all her most flashy ad campaigns to date. —Elisabeth Sherman, Parents, 3 Sep. 2025

Some are too flashy, while others look too plain to justify the price tag. —Amina Ayoud, Glamour, 3 Sep. 2025

Paramount, which has flashy new owners in Skydance, has been aggressively making deals with big names to bolster its film roster, all par for the course for a new regime looking to make a name for themselves. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2025

From Busy Work To Strategic Work The most successful organizations won’t be those with the biggest data sets or the flashiest AI. —Mikko Karkkainen, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1593, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for flashy

• ashy
• trashy

Kids Definition

flashy

adjective

ˈflash-ē 

flashier; flashiest

: gaudy

flashily

ˈflash-ə-lē 

adverb

flashiness

ˈflash-ē-nəs 

noun